Way2go4 Walking Holidays News

The Best Time To Go Walking In Cornwall

Posted 10 Jan, 2017 by Way2go4 Walking Holidays

Cornwall is a delightful place to visit no matter which time of year you choose. However, we’ve put together a guide to let you know when the best months to visit this beautiful county are and the weather, wildlife and flowers you can expect to see during your walking holidays in Cornwall. Our holidays provide the perfect opportunity to explore the local area and embark upon a truly authentic Cornish adventure, just wait and see what is in store!

April

Spring is a fantastic time to visit Cornwall. You are likely to experience warmer temperatures by the coast and beautiful expanding blue skies, crisp fresh air and sunny days, creating the perfect environment for walking! The days are long and, surprisingly, April is one of the driest months of the year. A great way to celebrate Easter is to come to Cornwall, where season-themed culinary delights are never far away and cute, baby lambs playing in fresh green fields are plentiful.

Flowers

The opportunities to spot wild flowers in April are plentiful and the burst of colour cements the emergence of Spring. As we follow the coast, we explore charming deep wooded valleys which host an abundance of bluebells, which in April are just about to reach their full potential and burst into full bloom. The coast path itself also boasts a range of wildflowers popping up left, right and centre - the gorse is in also in bloom and below Sea Pinks, Kidney Vetches and Sea Campions can also be found.

Wildlife

Common lizards begin to emerge from hibernation in April, so it is a great time to spot them on your explorations of the Cornish coast. They can often be found basking in the warmth of the sun near south facing hedges, but will usually scarper within moments of hearing a disturbance. Be patient, as they often return to the same spot and will be an absolute treat if you do manage to spot one! Listen out for the most traditional sound of spring, as common cuckoos return from their winter expeditions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Averages:

High temperature: 11 °C, 52 °F

Sunshine hours per day: 7

Rainfall per month: 60mm

May

Make the most of your bank holidays in May, and walk the diverse South West Coast path with us, where spectacular scenery, incredible coastlines and breath-taking beaches are all but guaranteed. May sits in the middle of Spring and at the heart of the three driest months of the year which boast over 600 hours of sunshine. You can make the most of the long days with the sun rising at 5am and setting just after 8pm, giving you plenty of time to appreciate the true beauty of everything Cornwall has to offer.

Flowers

The brighter and sunnier days have worked wonders on the range of wildflowers that can be spotted in Cornwall by now and Bluebells are in their prime, exuding a wonderful, floral scent as we walk by. May is the best time for wild garlic to flourish amongst Cornish soils, and can be used to flavour a vast range of dishes. You may also wish to consider cautiously picking a few wild stinging nettles from their juicy green tips to create surprisingly fresh and authentic flavours amongst your food. Combine the two this spring, and take a look at our guide and recipe for a Wild Garlic and Nettles soup, a tasty treat to refuel you after a long walk!

Wildlife

May is a fantastic month to spot basking sharks off the coast of Cornwall, and in 2015 nearly 650 sightings were reported by the Seaquest Basking Shark Project last year. These magnificent marine creatures are the second largest fish in the world and can reach lengths of over 10 metres! Hedgehog breeding season is also in full swing come May, so, should you be out and about during the evening on your walking holiday, it is advisable to look out for these prickly, pest-eating friends.

Averages

High temperature: 14 °C, 57 °F

Sunshine hours per day: 10

Rainfall per month: 60mm

June

As spring draws to a close and we welcome summer with open arms, June is a great time to visit the Cornish coast and avoid the summer holiday rush that is undoubtedly forthcoming in July. In June, rain tends to fall more during the night, meaning you can still get out and about during the day and enjoy the fantastic range of nature on your walks, without a minimised risk of a downfall.

Flowers

June is a great time to see Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil, or what is less formally known as ‘Granny’s Toenails’, which gives an instant indication of the claw-like seed pods. A member of the pea family, this sprawling species can be found up and down the Cornish coastline and flowering is in full swing come June. Sheeps-bit is also most common near the sea, and the rounded blue flower heads grow in large numbers to make picturesque views up and down the cliffs. The Southern marsh orchid also begins flowering in June and can be found in a wide variety of habitats from marshes and fields to old walls and road verges.

Wildlife

For the foolhardy folk that fancy a dip in the sea now that the seas are, ever so slightly warmer, be sure to keep an eye out for a moon jellyfish or five! Adults are either pale blue or pink and can be identified by the four violet moon shapes on their dish-shaped top. Back on firm ground and near any weedy ponds, ditches or woodlands where our walks may take you, keep an eye out for the ruddy darter dragonfly, which is slightly smaller than the common darter but stunning none the less.

Averages:

High temperature: 16 °C, 61 °F

Sunshine hours per day: 12

Rainfall per month: 70mm

July

As the first official summer month, July does not disappoint a visitor to Cornwall, as the beginning of the season sees spirits running high, decent weather and picnicking opportunities. As one of the warmest months of the year, you can take advantage of all the attractive features this county has on offer for walkers in optimum conditions.

Flowers

July sees the Cornish Bellflower begin to flower and as such leaves an abundance of white, bell-shaped petals across the cliff tops. This beautiful ivory plant is thought to have first been naturalised in Cornwall, so what better place to see it than in its originating county? Common sea lavender is also beginning to flower in July, and is worth looking out for on the South West Coast Path to relish in the beautiful scents it can produce.

Wildlife

Reptile enthusiasts rejoice, for July is often a good month for finding adders all over the Cornish countryside. Adders tend to favour areas of coastal heathland, so our walks are a fantastic place to go snake spotting, although walkers will need to be patient and peaceful in their approach, for the reptile will slither away at the first sign of disturbance.

Averages:

High temperature: 19°C, 66°F

Sunshine hours per day: 13

Rainfall per month: 60mm

August

August is tied with July in terms of the warmest months of the year, but tops the charts when it comes to sea temperatures. Rainfall tends to be short-lived, and is quickly followed by outbursts of warm sunny weather to dry you off. Sun cream is a must for long walks in August, as a shoulder burn may limit your enjoyment!

Flowers

The heath lobeila is a very rare plant in Cornwall and across the UK. A fairly tall plant that can grow up to 50cm in height with the beautiful blue flowers opening predominately in August. They are mostly found along the bottom of valleys and are a spectacle to see if you manage to spot one during a walk. The less pretty but equally fascinating common glasswort can also often be spotted around the North Cornish coast, where it features patchily amongst salt marshes and other muddy places.

Wildlife

August is a fantastic month to spot the clouded yellow butterfly, an annual visitor that plagues Cornish shores from southern Europe. They can be found virtually anywhere, but head to areas that are rich in flowers for the best possible chance of a sighting. Later on in the month, large numbers can be seen migrating south for a slightly warmer winter! This month also marks the start of when you are most likely to see a leatherback turtle, so be sure to keep an eager eye out for these critically endangered creatures.

Averages:

High temperature: 19°C, 66°F

Sunshine hours per day: 11

Rainfall per month: 60mm

September

As the hustle and bustle of the summer holidays seem like a world away, September is a joyfully dry month for walking and whispers of an Indian summer will inevitably be forthcoming. With fewer crowds, it’s a great time to see some of the more popular beaches in the area in all their glory and although the days start to get shorter, there’s still plenty of daylight for our walks!

Flowers

A very rare and localised plant which can be found only on the north coast of Cornwall is the felwort. This means that we are in the perfect location for hunting the beauties! September sees the heart of its flowering season, and the pale pink petals make it a very attractive plant, although it’s whereabouts is unpredictable and changes year on year. Interestingly, it can also be used to treat digestive disorders!

Wildlife

September is a fantastic time to find dormice in the wild. The little rodents are usually busy fattening up in preparation for winter hibernation. We are sure you’ll be following in its footsteps after sampling the culinary delights Cornwall has to offer! Bumblebees will also be out in full force this month. As the number of pollen and nectar decreases, the insects will be frantic in their search to find food to survive the autumn.